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The news site of Evanston Township High School's student newspaper

The Evanstonian

The news site of Evanston Township High School's student newspaper

The Evanstonian

The news site of Evanston Township High School's student newspaper

The Evanstonian

Ben Baker-Katz

Ben Baker-Katz, In-Depth Editor and Sports Columnist

My name is Ben Baker-Katz, I am a senior at ETHS and this is my second year working on The Evanstonian. This year, I am the In-Depth Editor and the Sports Columnist. Last year, I was a Sports Editor. Outside of The Evanstonian, I play varsity baseball, and I am on the Junior Board of Connections for the Homeless. While I do not plan on pursuing journalism beyond high school, what I’ve learned about interacting and talking with others will serve me well in whatever I decide to do with my life.

By Ben Baker-Katz
The new opium of the people

The new opium of the people

Ben Baker-Katz, Sports Columnist May 24, 2019

It’s time for my last hot take of the year. To my loyal readers, all three of you, thank you for reading. To the rest of you, I’m sure you had better things to do with your time. But you’re going...

Womens’ sports uniforms are blatantly sexist

Ben Baker-Katz and Hailey Fine April 26, 2019

From sprinting in skirts to exercising in skin-tight shorts; the issues with women’s uniforms in sports has been ongoing, not only at ETHS but in our society as a whole. Let’s start with the topic...

The utilization of different tracking methods

Ben Baker-Katz, In-Depth Editor March 22, 2019

The mandatory, five-hour-long test in the early morning is a familiar narrative to most high schoolers. Standardized testing has become ingrained in the public education system. Both New Trier and Evanston...

Can’t drive, can’t commit

Can’t drive, can’t commit

Ben Baker-Katz, Sports Columnist & In-Depth Editor December 26, 2018

Imagine being a normal 6th grader, with normal 6th grade problems; except for one thing: you’ve just committed to play football at a DI university. Let’s take a trip to Los Angeles, where 10-year-old...

Students recount experiences with mental health services

Students recount experiences with mental health services

Trigger Warning: The following story contains information regarding mental health issues that may trigger some readers. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. Disclaimer: In this...

8 Kits commit to Division 1 athletics at Fall National Signing Day

8 Kits commit to Division 1 athletics at Fall National Signing Day

On Wednesday Nov. 14, eight ETHS seniors committed to Division 1 athletic programs. Seniors Annika Destefano, Rosemary Gibbons, Lucy Hogan, Lance Jones, Keara Kerr, Trevor Nelson, Olivia O'Donnell and...

Junior Max Peterson and team compete at sectionals.

Osterlund, Peterson finish strong at XC state

Ben Baker-Katz and Sophia McCandlish November 9, 2018

The season ended for most of the Wildkit cross country program after the sectional race on Oct. 27, but senior Abby Osterlund and junior Max Peterson accomplished the ultimate goal: competing in Peoria...

The IHSA hands out playoff spots

The IHSA hands out playoff spots

Ben Baker-Katz, Sports Columnist November 9, 2018

The goal of sports is to win, it is what makes athletics competitive. So, what if winning didn’t really matter at all, at least for the majority of your season? In every professional and collegiate sport,...

OOD to UIUC

OOD to UIUC

Ben Baker-Katz and Eli Cohen November 9, 2018

After years of tireless hard work and dedication, senior Olivia O’Donnell has committed to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign on a gymnastics scholarship. “I chose U of I because I felt...

Paying NCAA athletes is more trouble than it’s worth

Paying NCAA athletes is more trouble than it’s worth

Ben Baker-Katz, In-Depth Editor & Sports Columnist October 7, 2018

Everybody should be paid for the work they do, right? But when it comes to Division I sports, the answer to that question becomes much more complicated than a simple yes or no. There are many arguments...

Wards of Evanston

Wards of Evanston

The city of Evanston is divided into nine wards, with an alderman elected into each. Aldermen and residents of a certain ward, in theory, work together to better their community with implementations of...

NFL kneeling rule, no big deal

Ben Baker-Katz, Sports Columnist August 28, 2018

In May of this year, the NFL owners unanimously approved a policy that requires players to stand on the field during the national anthem. However, it does give players the option to remain in the locker...

Kevin McCaffrey is one of several ETHS teachers retiring this year.

To the next journey…

Ben Baker-Katz and Margo Levitan May 24, 2018

Kevin McCaffrey If you’ve walked down the west hallway of the second floor any time over the last two decades, you’ve seen him: a balding, hawaiian-shirt-wearing man standing out- side his classroom....

Junior Halley Seed takes a shot on goal.

Water polo takes young roster into conference

Ben Baker-Katz April 27, 2018

After falling one goal short last season, girls water polo looks to take home the hardware at the conference tournament next weekend. “We’re confident,” said head coach Andy Miner. “We expect...

Safety differs among schools across the Chicago area

Safety differs among schools across the Chicago area

Ben Baker-Katz, Sports Editor March 23, 2018

Alarms blare. Gun shots ring out. An armed gunman has entered the school.     “The first thing that happens is that the school goes into lockdown,” Evanston Police Detective and ETHS School Resource...

Junior Lance Jones drives through New Trier defenders to score.

March Madness

Ben Baker-Katz, Sports Editor February 22, 2018

The varsity basketball team has played some of the best competition in the state so far this season, such as Niles North, New Trier, and Loyola.     “They [Wildkits] don’t have a huge weakness,”...

Wrestling muscles up for Russ Erb tournament today

Ben Baker-Katz, Sports Editor December 15, 2017

Despite wrestling’s sixth place finish in the Russ Erb Tournament last year, the team returns stronger and ready for a fight today.      “It’s another level of competition, it’s a state caliber...

Junior Sydney Hollingsworth competes at a meet.

Yin and Yang

Ben Baker-Katz, Sports Editor November 3, 2017

Five years ago, the freshmen girls swimming team beat New Trier for the first time in years by one point. Last weekend, this freshmen class beat the Trevians by over 100 points, breaking a meet record...

Junior Ramin Abraham passes the ball upfield during practice.

Boys soccer prepares for playoffs

Ben Baker-Katz, Sports Editor October 13, 2017

Three’s a streak. Boys soccer is looking to win their third straight Sectional championship as they get ready for playoffs. “I think if we can get through Sectionals, we’re winning State”...

Lasting legacy

Ben Baker-Katz, Sports Editor September 22, 2017

It runs in the family. The Michelin family has been involved in ETHS Track and Cross Country for over 30 years, and their dynasty is not dying down anytime soon. “We are a track family,” said...

Evanston vs. Foreman Varsity Football Game- Recap and Highlights

Ben Baker-Katz, Online Sports Writer September 6, 2016

The outcome was never in doubt Friday night when Evanston defeated Foreman in a crushing 49-8 victory. Evanston’s running game was dominant all night. Ben Easington, senior, opened the scoring with...

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